William & Mary Policy Review

Given the troubling economic climate, it is no surprise that the president brought up the issue of budgeting in his State of the Union Address this week. The president proposed freezing government spending for three years starting in 2011. A blanket freeze on all discretionary spending (with the exception of national security, Medicare/Medicaid, and social security) is miles apart from the president’s campaign analogy of using a scalpel instead of a hatchet in this arena. Further, starting next year “when the economy is stronger” is troubling, as many experts are not convinced that the economy will significantly recover by then. Stating that “that’s how budgeting works” then seems off-base. For many individuals, that’s exactly the opposite of how budgeting works. No household in financial trouble sits at the kitchen table, looks at their bills, and decides to go on a budget next year. For budgeters and dieters alike, tomorrow often never comes. Does this not feel like locking the safe after you’ve already been robbed?